I was very excited about reviewing Grains as Mains by Laura Agar Wilson, a cookbook recently published by DK books that focuses on using ancient grains such as spelt, quinoa, buckwheat and farro in modern recipes. The term ancient grains refers to grains and seeds that are virtually the same as those used by the earliest civilisations. Interesting, these ancient grains are tasty and nutritious, plus some are gluten free too.
Grains as Mains contains at a glance information about these grains and seeds, followed by preparation and cooking techniques. There is an amazing selection of delicious looking recipes each incorporating an ancient grain as a substantial component of the dish.
For the purposes of this review I decided to test the Italian Tomato Barley Risotto recipe. I really like a risotto and quite often choose one if eating out. However, a traditional risotto recipe does require a certain amount of time and patience to prepare, the recipe I selected appealed because of its simplicity and lack of hovering over the hob.
I was extremely impressed with the taste and texture of the barley risotto. I can definitely see me making this recipe again and using it as inspiration for my own recipes in the future. What I particularly liked about this book is that it has really got me thinking about ingredients that I would not normally use. With this in mind, I’m planning on experimenting in the future as well as trying out lots more recipes from this fabulous book.
To be in with a chance of winning a copy of Grains as Mains by Laura Agar Wilson (RRP £16.99) you will need to complete the Rafflecopter entry form and provide an answer to the giveaway question as a blog comment. (Leaving a blog comment is mandatory, so please follow this requirement to ensure your entry is valid). Once, you have done that there are further chances to win.
Click here to enter the giveaway
The giveaway will close at 00:00 on 4 May 2015 and is open to UK entrants only.
I wish you all the very best of luck.
Julie
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Terms and Conditions:
This giveaway will close at 00:00 on 4 May 2015. Leaving a blog post comment is a mandatory entry option. This prize is offered by Dorling Kindersley Ltd (DK) and I am hosting it on behalf of them. Please note, I am not responsible for posting the prize out or providing it. DK or their representative will send out the prize within 14 days of the winner providing me with their name and address. The winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received by the Rafflecopter widget. The winner will be notified within 7 days of the closing date. The prize is as stated, a copy of Grains as Mains by Laura Agar Wilson, no cash alternatives are available. This giveaway is open to UK entrants only.
Disclosure:
Dorling Kindersley Ltd (DK) are kindly offering the prize to one lucky reader. I received a copy of Grains as Mains to review. I have not been sponsored or paid to host this giveaway. All opinions are honest and my own.
Julie's Family Kitchen 
I would love to win a copy of Grains As Mains because I don’t use many grains in main dinners more lunches so I could learn ways to use grains in main meals
I would love to win a copy of Grains As Mains because it would help me up my fibre intake.
I would like to win as I love experimenting with new foods – and different grains are something I’ve not used much of
We’re not very adventurous when it comes to grains, so it would help us expand our horizons a bit!
To help me experiment with food more!
i’d love to win a copy. I try and use lentils for pretein being vegetarian , but not very adventurous. this would be a great incentive to try new grains
I need to change my diet for the better and to reduce the cost of my shopping too.
need to be more adventureous with food
I’m a vegetarian who knows that it’s all too quick and easy just to go for the pasta so I do try to mix it up with barley, cous cous and bulghar wheat but I’d love some new ideas.
They are a large part of my diet being vegetarian but eating mostly vegan meals. Always looking for new recipes to use them.
I want to win because I want to learn how to cook more meat-free dishes.
I’m another vegetarian who needs to experiment more with different grains, so this would be a great inspiration for me
I’d love to win because I’m always looking for new ideas on how to cook grains
I’d like to know more about how to use quinoa.
It would make a change for my family
This book looks different, new ideas, would like a copy.
Why would you like to win a copy of Grains as Mains?…………..intriguing idea and would love to try it
It would encourage me to try different grains instead of just having pasta and rice all the time.
I’ve been making small changes to my diet month on month for a while – this book would be a great help in inspiring me to be more creative.
Its a cheap and healthy way to eat
I would like to win, because it sounds different and you get fed up of eating the same food week in and week out. You are just eating for the sake of it, rather than enjoying something new. 🙂
I would like to win as i have been wanting to add this sort of thing to my diet for a while but haven’t been sure of how to do it..
I’d love to win this for my mum!
I am a vegetarian who would like to eat more grains but don’t know how.
I love grains…but never know what to do with them..this book will give me a chance to try out some fantastic recipes
I want to eat healthier but it’s hard to get proper recipes such as these!
I’d love to win as me and the boyfriend have recently started eating a lot more healthily at home , I already love trying out new recipes but this seems perfect for some unique ideas!
I would like to win this book as I like experimenting with different recipes and I want to use more grains in my diet. This book looks unique compared to others.
I would like to win as I am awful at cooking and would like to learn more
Fab giveaway- big fan of Laura’s blog (and yours too, of course!)
I’d love to learn how to incorporate grains into my diet and help with my overall health
I’d love to give this book to my sister 🙂 she loves cooking
I’m always on the lookout for new healthy meal ideas. This book would really be useful.
I like the idea of a barley risotto. When I lived in France, I always used to make barley salads in the summer, yum!
I would love to learn what to do with things like quinoa and buckwheat.
this would really help me
To learn how to make tasty, healthy, and filling recipes.
The recipes look interesting and I would love to try them out
I love grains and it would be great to collect more recipes to enjoy with my family and friends.
I would love this book because I love experimenting with new dishes with my kids, we are massive fans of buckwheat and quinoa, this would really help us create wholesome varied meals!
Great review. I try and stick to a vegan diet so this book would really help when I come to cooking meals that both me and my partner can eat!
We would love this book as we have recently gone vegan as a family and only eat organic. I need some ideas of how to incorporate more grains and pulses into our diet to ensure we get the complete amino acids for protein- not just as accompaniments as we used to do but as the main stars! My 2 year-old son is a keen helper in the kitchen already and it would be nice if we could learn some more adventurous grain dishes together. The internet is great for recipes but we don’t have internet at home. And anyway, books win hands-down every time! 🙂
Because i would like to create some better food for my husband and myself!x
I’d like to win a copy because I can never have enough cookery books!
I use a lot of grains as my daughter is a vegan. I am always looking for new ideas. I love to cook, but it more fun to try new things rather than stick with familiar recipes.
Iwould love to win as i could learn a whole new style of cooking
This sounds really interesting! I’ve been experimenting with more grains recently and would love to win this.